The awards ceremony is slated for November 29, 2025, at the Oriental Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos.

The TIA event will recognize and celebrate Africa’s foremost innovators, policymakers, and industry titans. It is designed to honor those who are propelling the continent’s digital transformation through cutting-edge technologies and forward-thinking solutions in telecom, AI, fintech, and beyond.

Organized by the InstinctWave Group in partnership with Digital Economy Magazine, the 9th TIA highlights Nigeria’s pivotal role as a hub for technological advancement. The organizers invite submissions from organizations, individuals, teams, and government entities with operations across Africa.

With a rigorous selection process ensuring merit-based recognition, the awards spotlight innovations that enhance connectivity, foster economic inclusion, and drive sustainable growth—aligning seamlessly with Africa’s Agenda 2063 and the global push for equitable digital access.

Dynamic Award Categories

The award event proudly introduces a dynamic lineup of categories designed to spotlight excellence across Africa’s transformative tech landscape, reinforcing the continent’s leadership in sustainable and inclusive innovation:

• Sustainable Innovation: Categories such as Best Bank in Sustainability and Innovative Renewable Energy Provider of the Year honor organizations championing eco-friendly practices.
• Financial Inclusion: The Financial Inclusion Bank of the Year and Cross-border Fintech Solution Award recognize trailblazers expanding access to financial services.
• Ingenuity & Infrastructure: The Technology Person of the Year and Innovative Tech Delivery Company of the Year celebrate individual and corporate ingenuity. These are complemented by Connectivity & Cloud Services Company of the Year and Digital Bank of the Year, which highlight advancements in digital infrastructure.
• Key Sector Transformation: Additionally, AgriTech Innovation of the Year and Innovative Shipping Company of the Year highlight the critical role of technology in revolutionizing agriculture and logistics—sectors vital to Africa’s economic growth and global competitiveness.

Catalyzing Future Growth

Past editions have not only celebrated luminaries but also catalyzed collaborations that have scaled startups into regional powerhouses, amplified underrepresented voices in tech, and attracted billions in investments to Africa’s digital infrastructure.

Akin Naphtal, Chief Executive Officer of InstinctWave Group, shared his enthusiasm:

“The Tech Innovation Awards have consistently served as a beacon for Africa’s burgeoning digital economy, where groundbreaking ideas not only receive the recognition they deserve but also ignite collaborative ecosystems. As we gear up for the 9th edition, we are more committed than ever to fostering an inclusive platform that empowers diverse innovators to tackle pressing challenges in telecom, AI, and sustainable tech, ensuring Nigeria leads the charge in the global innovation narrative.”

Echoing this vision, the Group Publisher of Digital Economy Magazine, emphasized the event’s transformative potential:

“Through the TIA platform, we have witnessed how visionary leaders and organizations, armed with audacious technologies, are dismantling barriers to digital inclusion and economic empowerment in Africa, turning Lagos into a veritable Silicon Savannah that rivals the world’s foremost tech hubs. For the 9th awards, we invite all trailblazers to submit their stories of resilience and ingenuity, knowing that this celebration will not only honor excellence but also blueprint the next wave of investments and policies that will redefine our continent’s technological destiny for generations to come.”

This year’s event, powered by the Technology Innovation Agency (TIA), an entity of the Department of Science and Innovation (DSI) and hosted by the City of Cape Town, once again created a critical third place for Africa’s startup economy to come together to celebrate the victories of the continent’s tenacious founders.

The event featured an exciting lineup of panel discussions, masterclasses, keynote presentations, pitch battles, expos, networking opportunities, and intellectual stimulation.

“As a division in the agency of the Department of Science and Innovation, TIA is tasked with creating an ecosystem that empowers startups to find the light,” said TIA Acting Executive: Innovation Enabling, Vusi Skosana, adding “we are creating a gateway into Africa, and our partnership with the SA Innovation Summit ensures that these opportunities are made easier.”

His statement was prompted by the City of Cape Town’s challenge to transform the Mother City into “the go-to destination for Africa and beyond, particularly in the realm of tech and intelligence that drives the desire for success”.

Alderman James Vos urged attendees to “push for committed actions” and to use the three days to “find solutions” for the city and our continent.

Africa’s premier ideas destination

The week was kick-started with the Von Seidels Cocktail & Connect event, which served as a catalyst for stimulating dialogue and paved the way for a series of discussions and interactions that will further the cause of African excellence.

#SAIS23 fostered connections and discoveries that will power the next phase of technological development and allowed stakeholders to see each other in a new light. Long-term partners Vexila and the City of Cape Town deepened their relationship when the City was treated to the full suite of products and unlocked new opportunities to innovate in critical electricity infrastructure.

This value unlock underlines the essential role of the summit as a platform to establish business partnerships.

“If you want to scale a business you can’t do it one customer at a time,” were the wise words spoken by Wetility founder Vincent Maposa in his Masterclass. “You need business-to-business relationships. Capital can be quite shy and those shy investors will have nuggets of information that they don’t share easily – you need to meet as peers.”

Platforms such as the Venture Stage, in collaboration with #SAIS23 partner, Sage, serve as the launching point for forging these connections.

Visionary founders use this platform to showcase their ideas, aiming to garner the admiration and interest of potential investors.

Taking innovation to the people

This year summit partner UVU Africa streamed the event live at the Khayelitsha Bandwidth Barn to help empower communities in the space that they occupy.

“If we don’t participate as Africans, there is no incentive for technology to serve us,” said Mindjoy founder Gabi Immelman in response to a discussion about the perceived threat of generative AI.

In his closing remarks, Vusi Skosana challenged the summit organisers to strive for even more inclusivity in future events. “Invite schools and rural communities to come and see the good work that we are doing here.”

He explained that the TIA mandate extends to igniting innovation in the circles just outside the founders and participants in the room. He added words of praise, encouragement and support to the audience that made #SAIS23 a success.

Thanks and awards

“Congratulations to the award winners, but to those of you who didn’t receive anything, this is not a failure. It was another opportunity to learn. When you win next year, it is because you came this year and did not win – value your lessons because wherever you go from here, you’ll be able to make a better pitch,” said Skosana.

The awards he is referring to are for the various pitch competition winners who presented to judges at the Sage Venture Stage.

SA Innovation Summit award winners:

Inventors Garage: 3rd Place – CT Labs, 2nd Place – Wheelchair Doctor, 1st Place – SenGeny Africa

Earth Observation Challenge: 3rd place – Drone Service Niger, 2nd Place – ZR3i, 1st Place – SnooCode

TIA Pitching Competition: 3rd Place – LIQID Medical, 2nd place – SwiftVEE, 1st Place – Water Hygiene Convenience

Boost UP Stand UP Pitch Competition: 3rd place- PasswordKid, 2nd Place – Chemyx, 1st Place – Bophelo, (Additional winner – Aria Cosmetics)

“It’s exciting to be among people who believe in the future and wake up every day to build it. We would like to thank all the participants, including industry-leading speakers, innovative exhibitors, and electrifying side events,” said SAIS CEO Buntu Majaja.

“SA Innovation Summit 2023 served as a melting pot where tech elites, visionary entrepreneurs, investment giants, policymakers, and thought leaders came together. We look forward to welcoming you again next year for another unforgettable experience.”